May Newsletter 2016

02-May-2016

Dear Friends:

Last month we mentioned that Mariah was moving on from Sew Steamboat to pursue her law school dreams, and that we were looking for a new partner. It's our pleasure this month to introduce and welcome Carol Mikkelson to Sew Steamboat! Many of us met Carol in the fall of 2014 during our Friday night Sit N Stitch gatherings (Nancy would get to know Carol and her husband on the ski mountain as ski instructors!) Carol was working on a linen stitch scarf and it was very colorful. We were all impressed with it and her! Blair was a few months into her partnership and Cindy was brand new, but we remembered Carol quietly attending and working on her scarf. A year later and Carol has been coming to Wednesday's Sewciety with Lynn to work on quilts. Her calm and friendly demeanor are a welcome presence - she always has a smile on her face. We'd like to welcome Carol to Sew Steamboat, and we'd like for you to learn more about her too. Below is a short bio. Please stop in and introduce yourself!

May also brings Mother's Day. Moms hold a special place in our hearts, and if you would like to make something for your special mom we can help. What mom wouldn't want a gift certificate from Sew Steamboat?! She can shop to her heart's delight or sign up for a class she's been thinking about. Happy Mother's Day to all the great Moms out there!

Finally, starting May 29th, Sew Steamboat will return to having Sunday hours just in time for downtown sidewalk sales during the Memorial Day weekend. On a serious note, let's take this opportunity to thank all the men and women in service to our country that made the ultimate sacrifice.

Carol grew up in Golden Colorado, where even as a young child she loved making things. Her first sewing projects were doll clothes, which she was taught to make by her maternal grandmother. Carol went to college where she majored in art, earning a BFA in photography. After a few years of working as a darkroom technician, she moved to Vail Colorado to work as a ski instructor, where she met her husband Karl. She started quilting while living there and has now been a quilter off and off for the last 25 years. Carol has two adult children and enjoyed her years as a stay-at-home mom. While her kids were young she volunteered her skills to start a 4-H quilting group for teens as well as teaching art for her son's Boy Scout Troop. She is looking forward to being part of Steamboat's creative community through Sew Steamboat. Carol is inspired by the work of others and hopes she can lift other people up in their creative journeys.

Sometimes yarn comes into the store, and I want it so badly! I'm like a child around candy or a toy. However, I take a deep breath and try to be around it for some time before purchasing it. These multi-skein packs from Frabjous Fibers (dyed and spun in the U.S.) are just one "must have" example for me.

I gave in and selected the "Golden Afternoon" color pack. The colors are subdued as I tend to gravitate toward those tones rather than brights or jewels. These packs have fun Alice in Wonderland themes and names: this sock/fingering weight pack is titled "Cheshire Cat." There are 5 skeins in each pack, 128 yards per skein, so 640 yards in total. Also, it's 100% superwash merino - a great for many projects.

I researched and found a pattern on Ravelry called Circulation. It was really fun and super fast to knit up. You knit two flat triangles on a circular needle (knitting back and forth) and with the creativity that I don't possess, you move stitches around your needles so that both triangles magically create a circular cowl without seaming!! Amazing and really, really easy. You could mix up the colorway for a second cowl - make one for you, and one for a friend.

Upcoming Events:

Sidewalk Sale

It's that time again - Memorial Day Sidewalk Sales! Many downtown Steamboat merchants will participate. Enjoy discounts on yarn, fabric, patterns and more. Sale occurs Friday, May 27th through Monday, May 30th. See you then!